CARIFTA Qualifier Cenac Highlights National Juniors

Destinee Cenac, a 15-year-old student of St Joseph’s Convent and a member of Morne Stars Athletics Club, is heading to next month’s CARIFTA Games in Trinidad and Tobago. 

Cenac cleared a career-best 1.60m in the Under-17 girls’ high jump on the weekend, making the Saint Lucia Athletics Association (SLAA) standard for the regional festival of track and field.

The SLAA began the 2025 PUMA National Junior Championships with field events on Saturday and Sunday at the George Odlum Stadium. Cenac was the sole athlete to meet the qualification standard in any event, after clearing 1.55m to win last month’s Independence Games.

Paige Anderson of Abilene cleared 1.50m to win the Under-20 girls’ high jump. Choiseul’s Kyshon Pierre took the Under-17 boys’ crown with 1.65m. Syesha Rogers (4.29m) won the Under-20 girls’ long jump for Morne Stars. Ronelle Etienne (6.56m) won the boys’ U20 for Sprint Tech. Barbara-Marie Maximin of Abilene took the girls’ Under-17 with a 5.10m mark. Randall Monroe from Saint Lucia Sports Academy cleared 6.08m for the U17 boys. Anwar Gill of Morne Stars did 13.43m for the triple jump U20 boys.

Jennica Albert of Morne Stars was a double champion. Moving up from the Under-17 ranks, she threw 9.12m for shot put and 23.55m for discus throw Under-20. Shekim McRae of Survivors threw 12.97m to win the U20 boys. Zianey James of Soufriere threw 10.82m in the U17 girls, winning by two centimetres. Yamarick Clarke of Nightriders threw 11.76m to win the Under-17 boys.

Muhammed McLorrain of Morne Stars captured gold in the Under-20 boys’ discus throw with a career-best 31.74m, and got bronze in shot put, whilst Sean Pilgrim of Pacesetters went 32.39m for the Under-17 boys. Ria Francis of Choiseul won the Under-17 girls with a 20.04m performance.

The winning throw in boys’ javelin throw Under-20 came from Jequan Joseph of Saint Lucia Sports Academy, who produced a 51.74m effort. Clowie William, also of the Sports Academy, went 29.50m for the girls’ U20 title. 

A third Academy student, Jackie Louison won the Under-17 girls in 24.92m, but Michael Eliotte of Abilene prevented an SLSA sweep, his throw of 41.04m taking the top spot in the Under-17 boys’ category.

Competition continues with track events next weekend at the Soufriere Stadium. Thus far, only one locally based track athlete has met the standards for next month’s regional championships. Sprinter Jady Emmanuel, a finalist last year in Grenada, has punched her ticket for the Under-17 girls’ 100m.